2017 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Sean McVay
2017 Offensive Ranking - 10th (362 ypg, 29.9 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 19th (340 ypg, 20.6 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Third year quarterback Jared Goff returns after a big improvement last season from his rookie season. Goff passed for 3,804 yards with 28 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions.
Running back Todd Gurley also enjoyed a huge bounce back season as he rushed for 1,305 yards (4.7 ypc average) and 13 touchdowns while also leading the team with 64 receptions (788 yards) and six touchdowns. Malcolm Brown (246 yards, one TD) is the backup.
The wide receivers are Robert Woods (56 receptions, 781 yards, five TD), Cooper Kupp (62, 869, five TD) and Brandin Cooks, who comes over from the New England Patriots after one season in which he caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. The tight ends are Tyler Higbee (25, 295, one TD) and Gerald Everett (16, 244, two TD).
DEFENSE - Aaron Donald (11 QB sacks) anchors the front seven in the Rams defense and will have Ndamukong Suh (4 1/2 sacks) along side him this season. Linebackers include Matt Longacre (5 1/2 sacks) and Mark Barron (three interceptions).
The secondary should get a big boost with cornerbacks Marcus Peters (five picks with Kansas City in 2017) and Aqib Talib (one INT with Denver) coming over in free agency. Nickell Robey-Coleman (two INT), Sam Shields and Kevin Peterson (two picks) are also in the secondary.
OUTLOOK - The Rams won the NFC West last year and made the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons under first year Head Coach Sean McVay.
This season, the roster has been bolstered, especially on the defense with numerous free agents coming over. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks joins a talented group and of course, the bread and butter players on offense are QB Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley.
As long as the team can continue the flow of the offense implemented by McVay and his staff, Goff should enjoy another big season. The Rams led the NFL in scoring last season. The running game was also top ten in the league, averaging 122 yards per game.
The defense struggled against the run, but with Suh coming into the fold, that should improve from last season when the Rams ranked 28th in that area.
The stage is set for another division title for the Rams as Seattle looks to be in transition while Arizona and San Francisco are looking to compete after making some off-season moves.
As long as Goff and Gurley are healthy and doing their thing and the defense shows improvement with the influx of talent this off-season, the Rams could go further in the playoffs this time around.
Another 11-5 finish is likely and perhaps (if things break just right) a trip to the Super Bowl is possible.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Oakland
Week 2 - vs. Arizona
Week 3 - vs. LA Chargers
Week 4 - vs. Minnesota
Week 5 - at Seattle
Week 6 - at Denver
Week 7 - at San Francisco
Week 8 - vs. Green Bay
Week 9 - at New Orleans
Week 10 - vs. Seattle
Week 11 - vs. Kansas City (in Mexico City)
Week 12 - Bye
Week 13 - at Detroit
Week 14 - at Chicago
Week 15 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 16 - at Arizona
Week 17 - vs. San Francisco
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